H1N1 Facts

• The CDC, at its current meeting on H1N1 flu, have determined these possible outbreak scenarios:

a) 30-50% of the US population becoming infected
b) 1.8 million hospitalizations
c) 30-50,000 deaths

• The CDC has confirmed 8000 hospitalizations and 522 deaths from H1N1

• H1N1 is more dangerous than seasonal flu for 2 reasons:
  

a) It penetrates deeper into the lungs and binds more tightly to tissues, causing more complications.
b) Most of the US population under the age of 60 has no immunity to the virus.

• Pregnant women are at greater risk for complications from h1n1. They should seek immediate medical attention if they fever or other flu symptoms.

• If allergic to eggs, you cannot receive the vaccine. You should take all other precautions against the flu and make sure those around you are immunized.

• For children too young to receive the vaccine, make sure everyone around them is immunized.

• Unless you are absolutely certain that you had the H1N1 flu virus in the spring, you should be immunized.

• All preliminary trials on the H1N1 vaccine have proven it safe, but there is still an extensive monitoring system in place.
  

• The vaccine should be available in late October to early November and will be given in 2 shots, 3 weeks apart.

• You should receive your regular flu vaccine in September this year.

• The greatest dangers from the H1N1 outbreak are
• Overwhelming our health system by the sheer number of cases on H1N1
• The complications following the regular flu season
• Greater susceptibility to other infections in the weeks following the h1n1 infection.